Jer Loc: Mesa, Arizona

I don't need to know the dollar amount, unless you want but do any of you sell photos on a regular basis on the new. Many photo websites offer this feature but I don't know if many people actually buy the photographs.
So what are your opinions...

bhfranklin Loc: Boston Area / Cape Cod

I would be interested in the same answer. thanks.

CaptainC Loc: Colorado, south of Denver

It depends on what you are shooting/selling. If you are just taking random images and posting them hoping that someone will - by some miracle - happen upon your images and then buy one, you may have a very long wait.

If you take images at some event and can direct people to that site, the odds of a sale increase from nil to "a little over zilch."

If they are portrait image from a booked session that you post, sales will increase a lot, because if people hired you, they obviously want at least a few images. However, online sales is the WORST way to sell. Although admittedly, for some types of photography, it is the only viable option.

Left to their own devices, people will look at the images until they are tired of them and not buy anything.

Do not quit your day job!

The absolute best way is in person - preferably by projection. But that takes us away from your question about online selling.

RiverNan Loc: Eastern Pa

I dont have one but have been encouraged to get one. I can barely sell them when I push them in peoples faces. How could I expect to sell them from among what seams like a zillion websites already out there. One of my friends said I will never be taken seriously If I dont have one. I dont even know what that means.
I have a blog as you can see below and after a full year have only 16 followers. Now you might ask "do your photos suck?". And I can only tell you go look and see if yours are better? It takes a lot more than having a web site to sell your photos...YOU NEED BUSINESS TO DRIVE TO YOUR SITE.

Well, Ill be a monkeys uncle...make it 17

Jer Loc: Mesa, Arizona

I posted this question because I don't think anyone is selling anything on a regular basis. However, it costs more if the website offers a sales option.
(Captain C, I agree with you.)
I'm just wondering what everyone's experience about online sales is like.

Jon Boy Loc: Missouri

I had success by putting display albums in floral shops. The best came from referrals.

jimmya Loc: Phoenix

There are those selling but it's my understand they're very few and very far between. With the number of digital cameras out there these days buying photos is nearly gone.
Why? When you can take your own.

But, good luck just the same

Roger Salls Loc: Stratford, CT

One of the primary things to remember is...you're selling your vision. You're not selling paper. This is probably the least understood aspect of selling your art. People always are saying, well it's an 8x10 and that paper doesn't cost much. So you say to yourself he/she is right, that piece of paper only costs me $.50 and I probably only used $1.00 worth of ink, soI'll sell it for $5.00. Well, if it is matted, the mat costs $3.99 so you now have $5.49 in material costs and you want to sell it for $10.00. First you just lost money, what about your time and gas and the time on the computer! NEVER SELL ART FOR THE COST OF MATERIALS!!! Sell your vision! Sell that matted 8x10 for 29.99. You're worth that much aren't you.

You don't care how many digital cameras are out there, YOU'RE SELLING YOUR VISION.
PS I sell matted 5x7 for $20 and Framed and matted 8x10 for $125. I do not sell 8x10 in mats only. Just my viewpoint.

RobGilchrist Loc: Thompson Falls, MT, USA

Blow them up, mat them, frame them, and display them. Then you may sell one occasionally (if the mat color goes well with their walls.)

Roger Salls Loc: Stratford, CT

SO TRUE SO TRUE

pigpen

I've been trying to avoid a website. The only problem, in this day and age, the FIRST words out of anybody's mouth is "Do you have a website?". In the last 3 months alone, I've had to create 5 discs for people who are potential buyers. The convienence of the website alone is worth the $200 a year to me!!! Also, today many people look at someone without a website as unproffesional. Or, at the very least, not serious about thier photography. I'm starting a website just to show my potential local customers my photography, not nation wide. I have another show coming up in April. I can only display 25-30 prints, and have well over 300 finished products. What you choose to display may not be what somebody else may like. My last show cost me $2,300. A website will be cheaper for me in the long run.

Another plus is the use of "private" galleries. I can upload all the family stuff, and only family members can access the photos with a password. So then, instead of e-mailing 10 people all the shots from Christmas, they check out the site and tell me which prints they want.

For me, its all about convienence. I'm very busy, and a procrastinator, and people don't want to wait. If it takes you a week to get them a cd, you might have lost a customer.

carol1948 Loc: USA

Hi,

I have joined a lot of sites to sell my photos. On all of these sites people are trying to sell. I did sell a few cards but, after they made them up and sent them out I didn't make that much. A website just costs to much. I have had the free ones also with no luck!!

sarge69 Loc: Ft Myers, FL

If I wanted a website for any photos I might think were good enough for selling, the 1st thing I would do is eliminate the right click to save this image. Folks can easily right click your photo/image and use it for their own purpose. It's an easy java script feature. I use it on some photos for my boating organization when faces/boats are featured.

Sarge

flytyer57 Loc: Mountain Home, Arkansas

If you're interested in any of my photo's PM me and I'll be more than happy to sell you one or two or three...

flytyer57 Loc: Mountain Home, Arkansas

Foget the matte and frame. Just go with canvas and let them decide if they want to frame it.